Manly Beach

Manly Beach is another of Australia's most popular suburban beaches along Sydney's long stretch of northern coastline. Manly Beach was named in 1788 by Captain Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales, because he was impressed by “the confidence and manly behaviour” of the area's original Aboriginal population. Take the majestic Manly ferry from Circular Quay and in half an hour you'll be at Manly Wharf. ‘Only seven miles from Sydney and a million miles from care' is a phrase often quoted by the people of Manly. When you visit this seaside town you will quickly realise why.

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Manly Beach

Find holiday information on Manly Beach, one of Sydney's most popular northern beaches, located a ferry ride from Circular Quay.

Manly Beach is another of Australia's most popular suburban beaches along Sydney's long stretch of northern coastline. Manly Beach was named in 1788 by Captain Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales, because he was impressed by “the confidence and manly behaviour” of the area's original Aboriginal population. Take the majestic Manly ferry from Circular Quay and in half an hour you'll be at Manly Wharf. ‘Only seven miles from Sydney and a million miles from care' is a phrase often quoted by the people of Manly. When you visit this seaside town you will quickly realise why.

Nestled between a tranquil Sydney Harbour beach on one side and a popular Pacific Ocean surf beach on the other, the laid-back character of Manly Beach seems a thousand miles from busy Sydney, yet it is only a ferry ride away.

Manly is a great Sydney beach for the whole family. From the harbour foreshore, the palm-tree lined Manly Corso leads you to the Steyne promenade, where a number of surf clothing shops sell everything from surfboards to bikinis.

The 1.5 kilometre-long golden Manly Beach has a sheltered ocean pool at one end. Queenscliff, at the northern end of the beach is a great spot to learn to surf as well as for experienced surfers. Many of Australia's champion surfers learned at Manly Beach. At its southern end, a pathway curls from the Manly Surf Lifesaving Club to Shelley Beach that is a popular track for joggers, cyclists and locals.

On Manly's doorstep there are many beautiful bushwalks, bike-riding paths and historical sites.

Manly Beach, Coastal Walk, Sydney, NSW

The Manly Scenic Walkway meanders around the harbour foreshore from The Spit Bridge via Dobroyd Head to Manly through some of Sydney Harbour's most stunning scenery and bushland. It takes about three to four hours to complete.

North Head Sanctuary is one of Sydney's hidden treasures. Take a leisurely walk along the tracks through virtually untouched bushland and look out for native birds and animals. Take a guided tour of North Fort, an important military base from World War II.

Within the Sydney Harbour National Park at North Head, Q Station is the site of Australia's first and longest-running quarantine station and offers a fascinating insight into Australia's early settlement.

Visit Oceanworld Manly and learn about the local marine life. At Penguin Cove you can see Manly's colony of Little Penguins. The charming Manly Art Gallery and Museum showcases the history of Manly and Sydney's northern beaches. The collection includes examples of swimwear, sunglasses, hats, towels, beach bags and surfboards from the 1900s to the present.

Other popular activities include beach volleyball, kayaking and scuba diving. Manly also boasts many fine restaurants and cafes along the beachfront. It also has some lively music venues and pubs. On weekends a flea market sells original handmade arts and crafts, jewellery, photographs, and sculptures inspired by the local culture and lifestyle.

Manly is the start of Sydney's long stretch of northern beaches which extend all the way to Palm Beach.

Beyond its landmark buildings, Sydney Harbour National Park shelters secluded beaches, picturesque islands and rare pockets of native bushland. Swim, picnic and bushwalk along the spectacular foreshore or visit harbour islands on a ferry. Go sailing or kayaking, get up close to wildlife and discover ancient rock art and convict-built buildings. The harbour's bays, parks and headlands are also natural grandstands for some of Australia's biggest events, from New Year's Eve fireworks to the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Traverse Sydney's entire, spectacular coastline - from Barrenjoey in the north to Cronulla in the south - on this unique week-long adventure. You can walk in either direction and hop on and off the trail as you wish. Do day walks, short scenic sections or any of the many walks looping off the main trail.

Australia's surf beaches, where first-class waves for all surfing abilities crash, are born from the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Indian Ocean in the west and the Southern Ocean in the south . Visit iconic Bells Beach, near Torquay, the gateway to Victoria's Surf Coast on the Great Ocean Road. In New South Wales, Byron Bay, Newcastle, Sydney and its south coast offer a superior swell. Hang out in Burleigh Heads or coast along one of the world's longest waves at Snapper Rocks on Queensland's Gold Coast. In South Australia, great surf beaches dot the Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre peninsulas as well as the Limestone Coast. In Western Australia, Perth, Margaret River and Esperance are home to an abundance of surf beaches. Brave Tasmania's Southern Ocean swells in Hobart, Bruny Island, Launceston, Devonport and Marrawah. You'll find a wave to yourself on our uncrowded and pristine coastal beaches.

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